Posts

This year, I’ve seen nutcracker decor everywhere—and not just at Grandma’s house. Store shelves are full of sparkly modern versions in all colors. But nutcrackers didn’t start out as classic Christmas decor—in fact, they weren’t even associated with the holiday until after the ballet debuted. So I dug into the history of Christmas nutcrackers and rounded up some of my favorite modern picks. How Nutcrackers Became Popular The very first nutcrackers were metal tools that simply looked like a pair of modern-day pliers....

How to Beat Egg Whites to Stiff Peaks Step-by-Step Before we can get to the actual beating, we need to get our eggs ready. 1. Separate the Eggs Fun fact about eggs: They separate more easily when they’re cold, but you’ll achieve stiff egg whites more easily if you let them warm up a bit before beating. Use an egg separator ($7.99, Bed Bath & Beyond) to separate the eggs straight from the fridge....

Types of Hedge Trimmers Let’s start with some basics on hedge trimmers. There are three main types of trimmers: gas powered, electric, and battery-powered. Most often you’ll find gas powered trimmers used by commercial landscape companies, while electric and battery-powered trimmers for home use. Depending on the size of your yard, the thickness of the branches you’ll be cutting, and the amount of money you’re willing to put into a trimmer, you have many options to choose!...

Dying Easter eggs with rice is one of our favorite easy kid’s Easter projects—just have an adult help with adding the dye. Once you’re done dyeing eggs with rice, display the finished eggs as part of a creative spring centerpiece or use them as part of your morning Easter egg hunt. How to Make Rice Dyed Easter Eggs Supplies Needed Ceramic eggs or hard-boiled eggsPlastic cupsDry riceFood coloring Step-by-Step Directions Follow these simple how-to instructions to color eggs with rice....

While yellowing is impossible to prevent completely, there are some ways to stave off the inevitable. Learn the reasons why white sheets turn yellow and what you can do to address those causes, plus washday tips that will leave white sheets as clean and bright-white as possible. What Causes Yellowing in White Sheets? There are a number of reasons that white sheets go yellow, but most of the culpability rests with you—literally!...

Is there a difference between landscaping rock and stone? You might think of stone and rock as interchangeable words, but the two are actually very different things, says Barbara Pleasant, author of Garden Stone. “Technically a stone has been exposed to weather or water near the Earth’s surface for a long period of time, while rocks come freshly broken from a larger mass below ground, most typically by blasting them out at a quarry....

Natural Dye Chart Leftover fruit and vegetable materials, such as peels and skins, are ideal for creating natural fabric dyes in a variety of colors. The intensity and shade may vary from plant to plant, but you can generally expect the following colors. Use this list of natural dye ingredients, but don’t hesitate to experiment with other items to create your own colors. Blue natural dyes: blueberries and blackberriesRed natural dyes: raspberries and beetsYellow and ochre dyes: lemon and orange peels, turmericGreen natural dye:spinach leavesOrange natural dye: onion skinsPurple natural dye: red cabbage leaves...

Carrot Care Must-Knows Carrots grow best in full sun. They also need regular and plentiful moisture (at least 1 inch of water or rain a week), and well-drained soil that is deep, loose, and free of stones and heavy clumps that can distort the roots. If you have clay soil, add plenty of compost, manure, and topsoil before planting. If your traditional, in-ground beds present challenges, plant carrots in raised beds that are at least 10 inches deep or in large containers filled with quality garden loam or potting soil....

If you’re afraid of pruning your trees, know that some pruning is better than no pruning–especially when trees are young and benefit from shaping. It’s also worth noting that trees are resilient and most moderate pruning can later be corrected as the trees grow over time, so there’s reason to learn how to prune a plum tree. Fruit Trees vs. Flowering Trees When it comes to plums, there are really two types: those grown for their fruit and those that are grown for their flowers....

You also need to decide how large your Christmas house display will be. You may just be executing an around-the-gutters-and-eaves operation, or you might want to consider something a little more intricate for your outdoor Christmas decorations. No matter how simple or complex, it helps to have a plan. Our step-by-step guide to DIY Christmas light hanging can help you develop a custom design that will work for every holiday season....

While vinegar does have many uses in a laundry room, there are safety measures to be aware of before using it, as well as some best practices to help you make the most informed decisions about when, and when not, to use this inexpensive natural cleaner. This guide covers the uses of vinegar in laundry as well as the potential drawbacks. The Benefits of Using Vinegar in Laundry There are many uses for vinegar in laundry, including stain removal, odor elimination, and mold and mildew eradication....

Wash New Towels Before Use Before you learn how to wash towels, note that you should clean them before first-time use. Most new towels are coated with silicone or other finishes that block absorbency. This coating gives them that extra-fluffy look and feel at the store. Washing your new towels removes these finishes and allows for maximum absorbency. Washing Towels with Vinegar To prevent colors from bleeding, wash colored towels with similar shades in warm water for the first several washes....

Pink represents fickleness. White is for those who are happy-go-lucky. Purple is for those with a sweet disposition. Larkspur can spring up to three feet tall if you plant it in well-drained soil and full sun. Related Video

Luckily, there’s an alternative that works just as well. We’ll show you how to make your own no-waste kitchen sponges. It’s an easy sewing project you can finish in an afternoon, and the best part is that the sponges use printed cotton fabric, so you can choose any color or pattern you like. How to Make a Zero-Waste Sponge Supplies Needed Cotton fabric Terrycloth Mesh Scissors Mildew-resistant poly batting Sewing pinsSewing machine (or needle and thread)Foam...

You might think you’re helping your machine run smoother by washing off bits of your dinner, but you’re actually using up far more water than necessary. “Most faucets operate at a 1.5 gallon per minute flow rate,” Adam Hoffman, director of engineering for dishwashers at GE Appliances, says. “Which means that if it is on for two minutes and 18 seconds, then the amount of water used to rinse just a few dishes is already the same as the 3....

Related Video

Picking The Best Berries While it’s a treat that some berries are available in grocery stores year-round, they’re seasonal fruits and will be more plentiful, less expensive, and usually better-tasting when they’re in season. Berries are best when the weather is warm. When you’re buying, choose the ones that are plump, tender, and bright in color. Avoid containers that are damp or stained, which might be signs of overripe or bruised fruit....

Sarah’s past work includes writing commerce pieces across several categories, including goods for the home, kitchen gadgets, fashion, beauty, and skincare for LoveToKnow Media.Prior to becoming a writer, Sarah worked in live daytime television at The Wendy Williams Show in New York City for over five years.She holds a B.A. in Communications & Social Interaction from SUNY Oswego. She’s also a millennial mom who’s contributed personal stories and parenting pieces to Motherly....

How to Add a Courtyard If you plan to add a courtyard to your home, consider how it is oriented to the sun and how you will enter and exit from both the house and garden. The more entries to the courtyard, the more likely you will use the space. No matter which material you choose, be sure the courtyard flooring drains away from the house. Before building a courtyard, you should also consider privacy....

Unique Loom Solo Solid Shag Collection Area Rug, from $20 (was from $53) Nuloom Rigo Handwoven Farmhouse Jute Area Rug, from $26 (was from $44) Loloi II Loren Collection Traditional Area Rug, from $31 (was from $129) Duduta White Faux Fur Sheepskin Rug, from $20 (was from $30) Unique Loom Outdoor Collection Transitional Indoor-Outdoor Rug, from $25 (was from $72) Artistic Weavers Odelia Vintage Bohemian Area Rug, from $18 (was from $75) Safavieh Brentwood Collection Medallion Distressed Area Rug, from $23 (was from $48) Jonathan Y Charleston Vintage Filigree Textured Indoor-Outdoor Rug, from $32 (was from $39)...